Tomie dePaola facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tomie dePaola
Born	Thomas Anthony dePaola (1934-09-15)September 15, 1934 Meriden, Connecticut, US
Died	March 30, 2020(2020-03-30) (aged 85) Lebanon, New Hampshire, US
Occupation	Writer, illustrator
Nationality	American
Period	1965–2020
Genre	Children's picture books, folklore, educational paperbacks
Notable works	Strega Nona
Notable awards	Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal 2011
Relatives	Frances McLaughlin-Gill and Kathryn Abbe (twin cousins)
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Tomie dePaola was a famous American writer and artist. He wrote and illustrated over 260 children's books! You might know his popular book, Strega Nona. In 2011, he won a special award, the Children's Literature Legacy Award, for all his amazing work in children's books. He lived from September 15, 1934, to March 30, 2020.

Tomie's Early Life and School Days

Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut. His family had roots in Ireland and Italy. He had one brother, Joseph (called Buddy), and two sisters, Judie and Maureen. His grandparents came from a place in Italy called Calabria. This is where he set his famous Strega Nona stories! His book The Baby Sister is even about his sister Maureen being born.

Tomie loved art from when he was just four years old. He always said his family encouraged him to be an artist. Their stories and traditions also inspired many of his books.

After high school, Tomie went to the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. He studied art there and earned his degree in 1956. He became good friends with his teacher, Roger Crossgrove.

Tomie's Amazing Career

Tomie dePaola had a long and exciting career. He was a teacher, a writer, and an illustrator.

Teaching Art and Theater

Tomie taught art at different colleges for many years. He taught in Boston and then moved to California. In California, he earned another art degree. Later, he moved back to New England. He taught art and even worked in the theater department at Colby-Sawyer College. He designed sets and costumes for children's plays! In 1978, Tomie stopped teaching full-time. He wanted to spend all his time writing and drawing books.

Writing and Illustrating Books

Tomie dePaola's first published book was Sound in 1965. He illustrated it for another author. The first book he both wrote and illustrated was The Wonderful Dragon of Timlin in 1966.

His writing career lasted over 50 years! He worked on more than 270 books. Almost 25 million copies of his books were sold worldwide. They were translated into over 20 languages! His most famous book, Strega Nona, came out in 1975. It was so popular that it was nominated for the Caldecott Medal. This award is for the best-illustrated children's book.

Tomie on TV

Tomie dePaola even appeared on television! He was on several episodes of Barney & Friends. In 2017, he also had his own show called Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola. It was made by the The Jim Henson Company.

Awards and Special Honors

Tomie dePaola received many awards for his wonderful books.

In 2011, he won the big Children's Literature Legacy Award. This award honors an author or illustrator whose books have made a "substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children." The award committee said Tomie had a special way of understanding kids. They loved his unique drawing style. They also said Strega Nona, the wise Grandma Witch, has "charmed generations of children."

He also received honorary doctorates from the Pratt Institute and the New Hampshire Institute of Art. These are special degrees that honor someone's great achievements.

In 1990, Tomie was chosen as the U.S. nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. This is a very important international award for children's book creators.

Tomie won many awards for individual books too:

• The 1983 Golden Kite Award for Giorgio's Village.
• The 1994 Aesop Prize for Christopher, the Holy Giant.
• The 2000 Southwest Book Award for Night of Las Posadas.

His books also received honors like the Caldecott Honor in 1976 for Strega Nona. He won the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award in 1982 for The Friendly Beasts: An Old English Christmas Carol. He also won the 1987 Golden Kite Award for What the Mailman Brought. In 2000, he won the Newbery Medal for 26 Fairmount Avenue. The Caldecott and Newbery Medals are top awards for children's book illustration and writing in the U.S.

Tomie's Books

Tomie dePaola wrote and illustrated so many books! Here are some of his popular series and stories.

Images for kids

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  Tomie dePaola's signature